Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Saturday, 19 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By David Ebert
The State Engineering Corporation on Tuesday announced the commencement of shop space reservations for ‘C-City,’ the State entity’s latest infrastructure venture in Peliyagoda, which is set to be an unique one-stop-shopping complex for building materials and other construction related goods and services.
Set for completion in December this year and spread out on a massive 16 acres, the project will offer over 260 shop spaces and related support facilities such as warehousing for storage, a car park and a modern food court with a children’s play area included. In addition, the location is ideally situated in proximity to the proposed Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and the Outer Circular Ring Road as well, offering shoppers easy access.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation Jagath Perera said that this initiative would be a ground-breaking experience for the Sri Lankan consumer and would usher in a new era of convenience and vitality to the industry.
Perera added: “Everything needed for the entire process of construction from the start to the finish will be featured at this one-stop-shop. C City will contain every facet of the building process, from architects for planning to every necessary material and service needed. The State Engineering Corporation which is well known for its engineering excellence since 1962 and having introduced precast technology and so many more engineering marvels to the country will take full responsibility for the project with 100% State guarantee and patronage.”
Perera further stated that the complex which is set to house a large number of competing industry retailers, will give the consumer a unique position from which to compare and contrast products on price, quality and service under one roof before making a purchase decision.
The event was attended by a large crowd of building material and construction industry entrepreneurs to whom the commencement of prior shop space reservation was announced. State Engineering Corporation sources said that a total of 50 spaces have already been booked tentatively so far and reservations will remain possible up to June this year.
The six different proposed shop space types will vary in size from between 80 to 300 square feet with monthly rentals ranging from Rs. 13,000 to Rs. 50,000. It was also announced that a special facility has been put in place for the rental deposits to be paid in four easy instalments of 30% at the time of reservation, 30% within a month afterwards, 30% within two months and the balance 10% to be collected on handover of the premises.
Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Wimal Weerawansa thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for seeing the wisdom of his vision and allocating the required land for the construction of the C-City complex, as he believed that a project such as this would give a much needed boost and open up new possibilities for the building and construction industry as well as the country’s future home owners.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe